One of the least surprised players about Nico Hoerner’s impressive transition to the leadoff spot is Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman, whom Hoerner replaced at shortstop after his freshman season at Stanford.
‘‘You could see his freshman year he definitely had a couple of things he would tell you he needed to improve on, and he did so the next couple of years,’’ Edman said late last month in San Francisco. ‘‘A big part that’s very similar to me, honestly, is that we both have contact mindsets and see pitches we know we can hit. So we [spoil pitches] weakly to the right and wait for a better pitch we can drive.
